Front-axle bracket, in particular for motor vehicles

ABSTRACT

Front-axle bracket ( 1 ) for motor vehicles, in which in each case two receptacles or recesses ( 5, 6 ) for the bearings for the swivel mounting of in each case one of two wheel control elements ( 7 ), such as the wishbone or A-arm, and the receptacles ( 18, 19, 20 ) for the securing of the front-axle bracket are provided as a premanufactured unit together with preassembled assemblies on the vehicle body, and at least some of the receptacles or recesses listed below for the securing of the steering mechanism ( 13 ) the securing of the stabilizer ( 15 ) the mounting of a hinged column ( 14 ), and the front-axle bracket is produced in the form of a light-metal component which is integral with said receptacles or recesses and connects them to one another.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of and Applicant claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §§120 and 121 of parent U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/989,903 filed Feb. 1, 2008, which application is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of PCT/DE2006/001582 filed on Sep. 8, 2006, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German Application No. 10 2005 043 759.1 filed Sep. 13, 2005, the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The international application under PCT article 21(2) was not published in English. A certified copy of priority German Application No. 10 2005 043 759.1 is contained in parent U.S. application Ser. No. 11/989,903.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a front axle bracket for motor vehicles. Such brackets, also referred to as subframes, frames or auxiliary frames, are mounted after they are provided with assemblies and/or auxiliary assemblies, as preassembled units or modules on vehicle bodies, for example, on the body and/or on the longitudinal beam of a motor vehicles.

2. Description of the Related Art

Such a subframe or front-axle bracket in which in each case two receptacles for the bearing for the swivel mounting of in each case one of the two wheel control elements, such as the wishbone or A-arm, are provided and further receptacles or recesses for the securing of the steering mechanism, the stabilizer and other assemblies and wherein the subframe in addition has other receptacles or recesses for the securing thereof as premanufactured unit together with preassembled assemblies on the vehicle body, has become known through DE 199 20 051 A1.

Such subframes have the disadvantage that they are very complex in the production because, first of all, different profiles have to be manufactured for the longitudinal beams as well as for the cross beams (also internal pressure-defected), furthermore, the receptacles for the different assemblies as well as the receptacles for the subframe have to be individually mounted to the chassis, for example, screwed on or welded and individual receptacles, for example, at the end of the side members, have to be reshaped, for example, flattened.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention was based on the object to avoid the disadvantages of the previously known brackets, respectively, frames or subframes and to simplify the production of these and to design them more cost-efficiently, to reduce the number of components and therewith to reduce the joining and assembly process, to improve handling, to reduce weight on the vehicle itself and on the frame and, thus, to save transportation costs and also to reduce the unsuspended mass. Furthermore, the assembly of the assemblies to a pre-assembled unit should be facilitated and become more cost-efficient as well as the assembly of the preassembled unit in the motor vehicle.

In accordance with the invention this is achieved in that at a front-axle bracket at least in each case two receptacles or recesses for the bearing for the swivel mounting of, in each case, one of two wheel control elements, such as two wishbone and/or A-arms and the receptacles or recesses for the securing of the front-axle bracket as a premanufactured unit together with preassembled assemblies on the vehicle body, has as well as at least some of the receptacles or recesses listed below for

the securing of the steering mechanism

the securing the stabilizer

the bearing of a swivel mounting

and wherein the front-axle bracket is produced in the form of a light-metal component which is integral with the receptacle and connects them to one another.

It can be advantageous if aluminum or an aluminum alloy is used as light-metal. Furthermore, it can be advantageous to produce the component, that is, the front-axle bracket, in a cast aluminum method such as in the tilting permanent mold casting process.

Such a front-axle bracket or subframe is significantly more cost-effective to produce compared to the previously known bracket because the joining together of single parts forming the frame and the securing of the receptacles is eliminated, therefore, joining and assembly processes are reduced. Surprisingly, a considerable savings in weight is also possible through the invention due to the higher specific weight of aluminum compared to its effective substances. Thus, not only weight in the vehicle itself can be saved vehicle and therefore fuel but transport costs can be saved in addition and the suspended mass reduced.

The front-axle bracket according to the invention, furthermore, can have an almost continuous base body except for the recesses for the receptacles and other recesses, e.g. for assembly purposes which expediently can be surrounded by reinforcement fins and the receptacles for the bearing of the wheel control members can be formed as arms. Thereby it is expedient if one of the two receptacles for each of the wheel control elements is formed such that this receptacle has at least two receptacle elements, spaced at least approximately in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, for the encompassing U-shaped mounting of the one bearing at the wheel control element and wherein the second of the receptacles for the bearing of each of the wheel control elements, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, is spaced from the receptacle elements and wherein the second receptacle serves for the bearing of the other one formed as a journal of the wheel control element, wherein the bearing journal of the wheel control element can run at least approximately in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

It can be especially advantageous on the arm comprising the second support integral therewith to provide a first receptacle or recess for the securing means to secure the bracket on the vehicle body, wherein it can be expedient when this receptacle is provided on the side turned away from the base body of this second receptacle.

According to a further design of the invention, the arm having the second receptacle has two reinforcing fins extending from the second receptacle surrounding the arm and merging in the base body. Thereby it can be expedient when the one reinforcing fin runs on the side turned away from the first receptacle of the arm bearing the second receptacle arm and merges into the base body. The other reinforcing fin on the side turned away from the first support of the arm bearing the second receptacle can expediently merge into the region of a second receptacle for the securing means for the securing of the bracket at the vehicle body.

Optimal structural strength values can be realized by such a design with a minimum deployment of material.

The arm bearing the second receptacle and extending from the base body suitably has a double-T cross-section. It can be further advantageous when the arm between the second receptacle for the other bearing and the second receptacle or recess for securing means for the securing of the bracket on the chassis has a further reinforcing fin running at least approximately transverse to the arm.

Optimal structural strength values can be realized by such a design with a minimum deployment of material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in more detail on the basis of the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a front axle bracket for motor vehicles in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the respective assemblies schematically shown in exploded view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The front-axle bracket 1 here has a base 2 which is surrounded by reinforcing ribs 3, 4. It has, further, bearing receptacles 5, 6 on both sides of the longitudinal vehicle axis F for the bearing of a wheel control element, respectively, wishbone or A-arm 7 on each side of the vehicle axis F. Thereby the receptacle 5 for the one bearing 8 of the wishbone 7 is formed by two arm receptacle elements 5 a, 5 b, which are provided in one arm each 9, 10 which extends from the base body 1.

The second bearing receptacle 6 for the second bearing 11 on the wishbone 7 is also provided on an arm 12. The front-axle bracket 1 has furthermore receptacles or recesses 13 for the securing of a steering gear 23 or steering mechanism 26 schematically shown in FIG. 2.

Further, a receptacle 14 is provided in the bracket 1 for the mounting of the pendulum support 24 (schematically shown in FIG. 2) and receptacles or recesses 15 are provided for the securing of the stabilizer 25 (schematically shown in FIG. 2). Receptacle 14 is formed predominantly as a cylindrical sleeve or jacket-like and directed predominantly towards road 27.

Arms 12 are surrounded by reinforcing fins 16, 17, which extending from the base body terminate in the bearing receptacle 6.

The bracket has further on both sides of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle F in each case first, second and third receptacles or recesses provided for securing means for mounting the bracket on the vehicle body, namely, receptacles or recesses 18, 19, 20. The first receptacle or recess 18 for securing means for securing the bracket on the vehicle body is provided on arm 12, namely, on the side of the receptacle 6 turned away from the base body.

The respective fin 16 merges directly into the second receptacle for the securing means for the securing of the bracket on the vehicle body.

The third receptacle 20 is provided at an arm 21 which extends from arm 10 which also includes the reception member 5 b of the first bearing receptacle 5.

The arm 12 with its two reinforcing fins 16 and 17 has a double-T-shaped cross-section and has, further, on the side turned away from the receptacle 18 of the second bearing receptacle 6 a reinforcing fin 22 running at least approximately transverse to the arm 12. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A front-axle bracket (1) for a motor vehicle having a vehicle body, said front-axle bracket (1) comprising two bearing receptacles or recesses (5, 6) for bearings (8, 11) for a swivel mounting of in each case one of two wheel control elements (7) and securing means receptacles (18, 19, 20) for securing means for securing of the front-axle bracket (1) and provided as a premanufactured unit together with pre-assemblable assemblies on the vehicle body, and at least one further receptacle or recess selected from the group consisting of at least one steering mechanism receptacle or recess (13) for securing of a steering mechanism, at least one stabilizer receptacle or recess (15) for securing of a stabilizer, and at least one pendulum support receptacle or recess (14) for mounting of a pendulum support, wherein the front-axle bracket (1) comprises a light-metal component which is cast in one piece with said bearing receptacles or recesses (5, 6), said securing means receptacles (18, 19, 20), and said at least one further receptacle or recess, wherein the front-axle bracket (1) connects said bearing receptacles or recesses (5, 6), said securing means receptacles (18, 19, 20), and said at least one further receptacle or recess to one another, wherein the front-axle bracket (1) further comprises a base body (2), wherein at least one of the bearing receptacles or recesses (5, 6) is provided on at least one side arm (9, 10, 12) connected with the base body (2) by way of a reinforcement fin (16, 17).
 2. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one side arm comprises first and second arms (9, 10, 12), wherein the two bearing receptacles or recesses (5, 6) comprise a first bearing receptacle (5) being provided on said second arm (9, 10) and a second bearing receptacle (6) being provided on said first arm (12), wherein said first arm (12) comprises first and second reinforcing fins (16, 17) extending from said second bearing receptacle (6) surrounding said first arm (12) and merging into said base body (2).
 3. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 1, wherein said light-metal component comprises an aluminum alloy.
 4. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 1, wherein said light-metal component is produced in an aluminum casting process.
 5. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 1, wherein said base body (2) is continuous, except for the bearing receptacles or recesses (5, 6), the securing means receptacles (18, 19, 20), and the at least one further receptacle or recess, said base body (2) being surrounded by reinforcing fins (3, 4).
 6. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 2, wherein the first bearing receptacle (5) is for a first bearing location (8) and has two receptacle elements (5 a, 5 b) spaced at least approximately in a longitudinal vehicle direction of the vehicle for an encompassing U-shaped mounting of the first bearing location (8) and wherein the second bearing receptacle (6) is spaced in the longitudinal vehicle direction from the receptacle elements (5 a, 5 b) of the first bearing receptacle (5), wherein the second bearing receptacle (6) serves for a second bearing location (11).
 7. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 2, wherein the securing means receptacles (18, 19, 20) comprise a first securing means receptacle (18) and a second securing means receptacle (19), wherein the first arm (12) has the second bearing receptacle (6) and at least one of the first and second securing means receptacles (18, 19).
 8. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 7, wherein said first securing means receptacle (18) is provided on a side turned away from said base body (2) of said second bearing receptacle (6).
 9. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 2, wherein said first reinforcing fin (17) extends on a side turned towards said first bearing receptacle (5) of said first arm (12) and merges into said base body (2).
 10. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 7, wherein said second reinforcing fin (16) extends on a side turned away from said first bearing receptacle (5) of said first arm (12) and merges into said base body (2).
 11. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 2, wherein said first arm (12) extending from said base body (2) has a double-T-cross section.
 12. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 7, wherein said first arm (12) between said second bearing receptacle (6) and said second securing means receptacle (19) has a reinforcing fin (22) extending at least approximately transverse to said first arm (12).
 13. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 1, wherein each wheel control element (7) is a suspension arm.
 14. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 1, wherein each wheel control element (7) is an A-arm.
 15. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 4, wherein the aluminum casting process is a tilting mold casting process.
 16. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 1, wherein the base body has additional recesses.
 17. The front-axle bracket according to claim 16, wherein the additional recesses are assembly recesses.
 18. A front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 2, wherein the two bearing receptacles or recesses (5, 6) comprise a first bearing receptacle (5) being provided on said second arm (9, 10) and a second bearing receptacle (6) being provided on said first arm (12), wherein said first arm (12) comprises a reinforcing fin (17) extending on a side turned towards said first bearing receptacle (5) of said first arm (12) and merges into said base body (2).
 19. A front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 2, wherein the two bearing receptacles or recesses (5, 6) comprise a first bearing receptacle (5) being provided on said second arm (9, 10) and a second bearing receptacle (6) being provided on said first arm (12), wherein said first arm (12) comprises a reinforcing fin (16) extending on a side turned away from said first bearing receptacle (5) of said first arm (12) merges into said base body (2).
 20. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 18, wherein the first bearing receptacle (5) is for a first bearing location (8) and has two receptacle elements (5 a, 5 b) spaced at least approximately in a longitudinal vehicle direction of the vehicle for an encompassing U-shaped mounting of the first bearing location (8) and wherein the second bearing receptacle (6) is spaced in the longitudinal vehicle direction from the receptacle elements (5 a, 5 b) of the first bearing receptacle (5), wherein the second bearing receptacle (6) serves for a second bearing location (11).
 21. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 18, wherein the securing means receptacles (18, 19, 20) comprise a first securing means receptacle (18) and a second securing means receptacle (19), wherein the first arm (12) has the second bearing receptacle (6) and at least one of the first and second securing means receptacles (18, 19).
 22. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 21, wherein said first securing means receptacle (18) is provided on a side turned away from said base body (2) of said second bearing receptacle (6).
 23. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 18, wherein said first arm (12) comprises first and second reinforcing fins (16, 17) extending from said second bearing receptacle (6) surrounding said first arm (12) and merging into said base body (2), wherein said first reinforcing fin (17) consists of the reinforcing fin (17) extending on the side turned towards said first bearing receptacle (5).
 24. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 23, wherein said second reinforcing fin (16) extends on the side turned away from said first bearing receptacle (5) and merges into said base body (2).
 25. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 18, wherein said first arm (12) extending from said base body (2) has a double-T-cross section.
 26. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 21, wherein said first arm (12) between said second bearing receptacle (6) and said second securing means receptacle (19) has a reinforcing fin (22) extending at least approximately transverse to said first arm (12).
 27. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 19, wherein the first bearing receptacle (5) is for a first bearing location (8) and has two receptacle elements (5 a, 5 b) spaced at least approximately in a longitudinal vehicle direction of the vehicle for an encompassing U-shaped mounting of the first bearing location (8) and wherein the second bearing receptacle (6) is spaced in the longitudinal vehicle direction from the receptacle elements (5 a, 5 b) of the first bearing receptacle (5), wherein the second bearing receptacle (6) serves for a second bearing location (11).
 28. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 19, wherein the securing means receptacles (18, 19, 20) comprise a first securing means receptacle (18) and a second securing means receptacle (19), wherein the first arm (12) has the second bearing receptacle (6) and at least one of the first and second securing means receptacles (18, 19).
 29. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 28, wherein said first securing means receptacle (18) is provided on the side turned away from said base body (2) of said second bearing receptacle (6).
 30. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 19, wherein said first arm (12) comprises first and second reinforcing fins (16, 17) extending from said second bearing receptacle (6) surrounding said first arm (12) and merging into said base body (2), wherein said second reinforcing fin (16) consists of the reinforcing fin (16) extending on the side turned away from said first bearing receptacle (5).
 31. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 30, wherein said first reinforcing fin (17) extends on the side turned towards said first bearing receptacle (5) of said first arm (12) and merges into said base body (2).
 32. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 30, wherein said second reinforcing fin (16) extends in the region of the second securing means receptacle (19) and merges into said base body (2).
 33. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 19, wherein said first arm (12) extending from said base body (2) has a double-T-cross section.
 34. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 28, wherein said first arm (12) between said second bearing receptacle (6) and said second securing means receptacle (19) has a reinforcing fin (22) extending at least approximately transverse to said first arm (12).
 35. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the securing means receptacles (18, 19, 20) is provided on at least one of outwardly-projecting side arms (12, 21)
 36. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 1, wherein the bearing receptacles or recesses (5, 6) comprise side arms (9, 10, 12), wherein the pendulum support receptacles or recesses (14) comprise an accommodation opening formed by an element comprising the sleeve and having an axis pointing at least approximately perpendicular to the road, and wherein said element is provided within the side arms (9, 10, 12).
 37. A front-axle bracket (1) for a motor vehicle having a vehicle body, which in each case has two bearing receptacles or recesses (5, 6) for bearings for a swivel mounting of in each case one of two wheel control elements (7) and securing means receptacles (18, 19, 20) for securing means for securing of the front-axle bracket (1) on the vehicle body, steering mechanism receptacles or recesses (13) with a steering mechanism fastened thereon, and stabilizer receptacles or recesses (15) with a stabilizer fastened thereon, and is formed as a premanufactured unit together with the steering mechanism and the stabilizer, and at least one pendulum support receptacle or recess (14) for mounting of a pendulum support, and the front-axle bracket (1) comprises a light-metal component which is cast in one piece with said bearing receptacles or recesses (5, 6), said securing means receptacles (18, 19, 20), said steering mechanism receptacles or recesses (13), said stabilizer receptacles or recesses (15), and said at least one pendulum support receptacle or recess (14), and wherein the front-axle bracket (1) connects said bearing receptacles or recesses (5, 6), said securing means receptacles (18, 19, 20), said steering mechanism receptacles or recesses (13), said stabilizer receptacles or recesses (15), and said at least one pendulum support receptacle or recess (14) to one another, wherein the front-axle bracket (1) further comprises a base body (2), wherein the bearing receptacles or recesses (5, 6) are provided on side arms (9, 10, 12) connected with the base body (2) by way of reinforcement fins (16, 17).
 38. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 37, wherein the premanufactured unit further comprises wheel control elements (7) with wheel control element bearings stored in the bearing receptacles or recesses (5, 6), said wheel control element bearings (5, 6) being for swivel mounting of in each case of one of the wheel control elements (7).
 39. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 38, wherein the premanufactured unit further comprises the pendulum support stored in the at least one pendulum support receptacle or recess (14).
 40. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 1, wherein one or more of said pre-assemblable assemblies is pre-mounted as an aggregate.
 41. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 1, wherein said at least one further receptacle or recess is a single pendulum support receptacle or recess (14).
 42. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 37, wherein said at least one pendulum support receptacle or recess (14) is a single pendulum support receptacle or recess (14).
 43. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 41, wherein said single pendulum support receptacle or recess (14) is primarily formed as a cylindrical sleeve and directed predominantly towards a road
 44. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 42, wherein said single pendulum support receptacle or recess (14) is primarily formed as a cylindrical sleeve and directed predominantly towards a road
 45. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 6, wherein the second bearing location (11) is formed as a journal of the wheel control element (7).
 46. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 20, wherein the second bearing location (11) is formed as a journal of the wheel control element (7).
 47. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 27, wherein the second bearing location (11) is formed as a journal of the wheel control element (7).
 48. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 7, wherein said second securing means receptacle (19) is provided on a side turned toward said base body (2) of said second bearing receptacle (6).
 49. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 21, wherein said second securing means receptacle (19) is provided on the side turned toward said base body (2) of said second bearing receptacle (6).
 50. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 28, wherein said second securing means receptacle (19) is provided on the side turned toward said base body (2) of said second bearing receptacle (6).
 51. The front-axle bracket (1) according to claim 23, wherein said second reinforcing fin (16) extends on a side turned away from said first bearing receptacle (5) of said first arm (12) in the region of the second securing means receptacle (19) and merges into said base body (2). 